If the mood takes you, you can also specify the colours to be used for each class of keyword you specified in the definition file. I usually leave them at the default ( but then, I never was artistic).

When it comes to running code written in Textpad, I usually just run a command line from within Textpad( Tools/Run then cmd in the command dialog) and start a sqlplus session.

The command session starts in the same directory as the saved file in focus in Textpad, which is handy for making quick edits as you can just switch between Textpad and the command prompt.

9 thoughts on “PL/SQL Syntax Highlighting in Textpad – for when you can’t play with Penguins”

I am so very with you on Textpad. I’m at my 5th job since discovering it, and it is an invaluable tool. It does exactly what I need it to do and keeps out of my way.
Personally, I just downloaded some syntax definitions and went through those til I found one I liked.
I also find the ‘find in files’ function to be VERY useful.
One of the things I do is load XML files through one of our applications. For each record in the file that generates an error, an XML file will be written out containing information about the error and the record.
Sometimes 20…50…or 100+ of these error files will be created.
Having Textpad do a find in files for the string ‘Error Is:’ allows me to quickly scan down the list of errors and make decisions without having to open each and every XML file.
And when 99% of those errors are identical, I can go to the one-offs quickly by double-clicking the result.
Very nice.